Bracelet clasp



May 14, 1935.

C. A. DOMLER BRACELET CLASP Filed NOV. 26, 1954 f7 weiziai 9 pleasing and attractive appearance.

Patented May 14, 1935' PATENT OFFICE 2,001,056 7 BRACELET CLASF Charles A. Domlcr, Providence, R. I., assignor to The Hadley Company, Inc., Providence, R. I.,

a corporation of Rhode Island Application November 26, 1934, Serial No. 754,703

7 Claims, (01. 24-71) This invention relates to clasps or fasteners forqdetachably connecting the ends of cords, straps, ribbons, bands and the like, which will be generically termed strands, and'as illustrative of its utility, the invention is herein shown in connection with a watch bracelet of the type in which the strands are suitable for attachment to the opposite ends or sides of a wrist watch.

The principal, objects of the invention are to provide a clasp inwhich the end or ends of a cord, strap or other strand may be easily inserted, securely fastened, and substantially enclosed, even though they are considerably frayed; to provide a clasp which is of simple design, having but few parts, which is of strong and durable construction, and which is economical to manufacture andreliable in operation; and to provide 'a clasp which is compact, convenient to operate and of Further objects relate to various features of construction and will be apparent from a consideration" of the following description and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a rear view of a part of a watch bracelet embodying a clasp constructed in cordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the bracelet parts shown in Fig. 1; i Fig. 3is a longitudinal section through my improved clasp, showing the parts in locking position;

'Fig. 4 iszan emarged'sectio the line 4 -4 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the clasp with its substantially on link and lever members in open position;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the clasp with the link and lever members in open position;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged end elevation of the clasp with its link and lever members in open position;

Fig. 8 is aside elevation of the clasp with the link member in open position and the lever in closed position; and i i Fig. 9 is an enlargedv end elevation with the parts as shown in Fig. 8. v V J The watch bracelet herein shown for the purpose of illustration comprises a looped cord l whose ends are secured by means of my improved clasp 2 to an adjustable connector 3 which may be of the type shown in Patent No. 1,966,063

carried by the connector 3.

A link member l2 (Fig. 5) is pivotally connected to the holder adjacent to its free end and is freely movable from a closed or nested position within the chamber 9, as shown in'Figs. 3

and 4, to an open or extended position as shown in Figs. 5 to 9. The link member l2 preferably consists of a U-shaped element having parallel legs l4 and I5 pivotally attached at their free ends to the side walls 6 and 1, respectively, by means of pins l6 and'll. The-legs l4 and I5 constitute a pair of spaced links-and the closed end I8 of the link l2 (Figs. 3 and '7) provides a pintle or cross bar which supports a lever member 20.

The lever consists of a piece of sheet metal wardly substantially at a right angle to the body of the lever and then laterally, as shown more clearly in "Figs. 5, 6 and 7. The lugs are so constructed and arranged that when the lever 20 is swung counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 5, from open or extended'position to closed or nested position, as shown "more clearly in Figs. 8 and 9, their laterally projecting portions engage the legs I4' and l5'of the link member and hold the lever 20 in such position that its outer surface is substantially flush with the outer edges of the link member.

When both the link and lever members are in open or extended position (Figs. 5, 6 and 7), the

entrance to the chamber 9 through the free end of the holder is wide open and the arrangement of the parts is such that the ends of the cord I may be quickly and easily inserted therein, even though they are considerably frayed, it being noted that the legs of the link member do not in any way obstruct the opening, but on the other hand constitute, in effect, guiding members operative to direct the ends of the cord into the chamber 9.

When the lever is swung counterclockwise (as viewed in Figs. 5 and8) to closed position its body portion fills in or spans the gap betwen the legs of the link member and in swinging the lever to closed position its free end forces the ends of the cord I into the chamber 9 as'shown in Fig. 9. With the parts thus disposed, the lever and link members are firmly locked together and act as'a unit, the serrated edge 22 being positioned to engage the cord in the chamber so that when these members are swung counterclockwise from the position. shown in Fig. 8 to nested position within the chamber, the serrated edge is simultaneously positioned sothat its teeth are embedded in the cord and firmly clamp the same against the inner surface of the top wall 5 of the holder. As the laterally projecting lugs 25, 25, engage the legs of the link'rne'mber, the lever is firmly locked in clamping position and can not be moved without swinging the link member from its nested position to an extended position.

It will be noted that in a clasp constructed in;

accordance with the present invention the ends of the cord are firmly held within the body of the clasp and are substantially concealed, even though they may be considerably frayed. 'Moreover the parts are such that when closed their outer surfaces are substantially flush and present the effect of a continuous unbroken surface, free from projections which might cause annoyance or discomfort to the wearer. v a

It will be noted that when the parts are disposed in clamping positionlFigs. l to 4) the outer surface of the lever 29 and the legs of the link l2 andthe edge of the walls 8 and 'Z are substantially flush, presenting inefiect a smooth, continuous surface which constitutes the bottom wall of the holder, and as the ends of the cord are clamped within the chamber 9 they are wholly enclosed by the top and side walls and the bottom wall. defined by the lever 26. Even though the ends of the cord may be considerably frayed, they are completely concealed within the charm her 9, and hence do not detract from the attrac tive appearance of the ensemble.

While I have shown and described one desir able embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that various changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit, and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. A clasp comprising a holder for receiving a strand, a pair of spaced links pivoted to said holder'and arranged to swing inwardly into a closed position upon said holder, and a lever pivotally secured to the outer ends of said links and arranged to swing into a closed position between said links, the free end of said lever having an inwardly directed edge constructed and arranged to grip a strand disposed in said holder between the free end of said lever and said holder when said lever and links are swung into closed position.

2. A clasp comprising a holder having side walls defining a chamber for the reception of a strand, a pair of links pivoted to said walls and arranged to swing inwardly into a closed position within said chamber, and a lever, pivotally secured to the outer ends of said links and arranged to swing into a closed position between said links, the free end of said lever having an inwardly directed edge constructed and arranged. to grip a strand disposedin said chamber between the free end of said lever and said holder when said lever and links are swung into closed position.

3. A clasp comprising a holder having side walls defining a chamber for the reception of a stranda pair of links pivoted to said walls-and arranged to swing inwardly into a closed position within said chamber, a lever pivotally secured to the outer ends of said links and arrangedto swing into a closed position betweenv said links, a laterally projecting lug on said lever arranged to engage one of said links and hold said lever tion within said chamber, a lever pivotally secured't'o'the outer ends of said links and arranger to swing into ja closed position between said links, said lever spanning the space between said links and constituting a closure wall of said chamber when said links and lever are swung into closed position, and means on the free end of said lever constructed andarranged to grip a strand disposed in said chamber between the free end of said lever and said holder when said lever and links are swung into closed position.

5. A clasp comprising a holder having side walls defining a chamber for the reception of a strand, a pair oflinks pivoted to said walls and arranged to swing inwardly into a closed position within said chamber, a lever pivotally secured to the outer ends of said links and arranged to swing into a closed position between said links, said lever spanning the space between said links and constituting a closure wall of said chamber when said links and lever are swung into closed position, a pair of laterally projecting lugs carried by said lever and arranged to engage said links to hold said lever in clampingposition, and means on the free end of said lever constructed and arrangedto grip a strand disposed in said chamber between the free end of said lever and said holder when said lever and linksare swung into closed position.

6. A clasp comprisinga holder for receiving a strand, a. U-shaped link member having its legs pivotally secured to said holder and arranged to swing inwardly into a closed position upon said holder, and a lever pivotally secured to the closed end of said link member and arranged to swing into a closed position between the legs of said link member, the free end of said lever having an inwardly directed edge constructed and arranged to grip a strand disposed in said holder between the free end of said lever and said holder when said lever and link member are swung into closed position.

7. A clasp comprising a holder having side walls defining a chamber for thereception of a strand, a U-shaped link member having its legs pivotally secured to the walls of said holder and arranged to swung inwardly into anested position within said chamber, a lever pivotally secured to the closed end of said link member and arranged to swing into a nested position between the legs of said link, member, said lever spanning the space between said legs and constituting a closure wall of said chamber when said link member and lever are swung into their nested positions, a pair of laterally projecting lugs carried by said lever and arranged to engage the legs of said link member to hold said lever in clamping position, and means on the free end of said lever for gripping a strand disposed in said chamber between the free end of said lever and said holder when said lever and link member are swung into nested position.

' CHARLES A. DOMLER. 

